School board considers fate of Turner-Howson

Comment

By Scott Brand

Sault Ste. Marie Evening News - Sault Ste. Marie, MI

By Scott Brand

Posted Feb. 15, 2013 at 2:30 PM

By Scott Brand

Posted Feb. 15, 2013 at 2:30 PM

Rudyard

Facing declining enrollment and costly renovations, the Rudyard Area School Board of Education is considering closing Turner-Howson Elementary School and moving the district’s youngest students into the structure that currently houses middle and high school students.

“The purpose is to give everyone the reasons why we are considering it,” said Supt. Tony Habra before hosting the first of six scheduled informational meetings on Thursday, “but no decision has been made.”

Habra explained it would take approximately $1 million to upgrade Turner-Howson — citing roof leaks, weeping windows, technology infrastructure and enhanced security as necessary expenses if the district opts to keep the building open. He projected an annual savings of $100,000 a year for the district if all of the students were moved into one building.

Enrollment counts from the fall of 2012 show the district currently has approximately 750 students. Habra said projections show those numbers will likely fall even lower before leveling off, adding the money used to renovate Turner-Howson might not pay dividends in the end.

“We don’t want to put $1 million into it and then drop to 600 kids,” he said.

In moving all of the students under one roof, Habra added the district would still have room for increased enrollment, figuring the building could hold somewhere between 800 to 850 students.

Under the K-12 proposal, elementary students would have their own office and principal and would be somewhat separated from the older kids.

While there has been some concern expressed about moving the young kids into the same building as the older ones, Habra said there are a number of Eastern Upper Peninsula school districts — Brimley, DeTour, Pickford and Les Cheneaux — that have successfully operated that way for years.

There would be a number of projected costs associated with the closure of Turner-Howson, according to Habra, including expenditures of $15,000-$20,000 for moving the playground equipment, a similar figure for security, and another $20,000-$40,000 to seal the elementary school against the elements if the building is not sold.

Habra also explained that the existing high school and middle school building will require approximately $2 million in renovations.

Four additional informational sessions to outline the proposal and take public comment will be held in the coming days. On Feb. 20, there will be presentations at the Kinross Township Hall at noon and 6 p.m. On Feb. 21, a meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Dafter Township Hall followed by a 6 p.m. session on Feb. 22 at the Rudyard Middle School Gymnasium.

The Rudyard Area Public School Board of Education is scheduled to vote on this matter at its Feb. 25 meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the High School Choir Room.